In a dynamic environment, it is vital for enterpris e to have flexible information system architecture to integrate ERP, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and E-Commerce (EC). The traditional systems are established o n t...In a dynamic environment, it is vital for enterpris e to have flexible information system architecture to integrate ERP, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and E-Commerce (EC). The traditional systems are established o n the ERP-centered flat architecture. This architecture has some disadvantages in supporting the dynamics of enterprises. Firstly, ERP is already a very expens ive and complex system; the extension based on it can only increase the complexi ty and make the implementation more expensive and risky. Secondly, under the arc hitecture, the flexibility is reduced sharply although the execution efficiency is maintained. In a rapid changing environment, flexibility is also an equally i mportant factor besides execution efficiency. Thirdly, it cannot support the dyn amic collaboration efficiently. The prevailing of the flat architecture is not d ue to its advantage but to the big software providers. From the system viewpoint , a hierarchical architecture is proposed. Difference from the current architect ure, in the hierarchical paradigm, ERP is put in the bottom level rather centere d. SCM is the center system, which adopts a multi-agent structure. EC is regard ed as its foreground interface, while ERP and other information system of the pa rtner or internal units are the background executors. EC is the extension of mar ket agent and purchase agent. It fulfills the function of trade on Internet by s ending orders to be executed to SCM and receiving the progress information of th e orders from SCM. After receiving orders from EC, the agent in charge of schedu le in SCM makes preliminary plan in form of instructions (which may be infeasibl e) based on the information of source. Trough the coordination of multi agent, the plan is adjusted to be feasible. Compared with current ERP-centered flat ar chitecture, the hierarchical structure pays more attention to dynamic collaborat ion rather the optimization within the enterprise. At last, two engineering case s, Beijing Shang Pu Electric Ltd and Qingtao Tianyue International Building Mate rial Free Trade City, are presented to illustrate the idea.展开更多
文摘In a dynamic environment, it is vital for enterpris e to have flexible information system architecture to integrate ERP, Supply Chain Management (SCM) and E-Commerce (EC). The traditional systems are established o n the ERP-centered flat architecture. This architecture has some disadvantages in supporting the dynamics of enterprises. Firstly, ERP is already a very expens ive and complex system; the extension based on it can only increase the complexi ty and make the implementation more expensive and risky. Secondly, under the arc hitecture, the flexibility is reduced sharply although the execution efficiency is maintained. In a rapid changing environment, flexibility is also an equally i mportant factor besides execution efficiency. Thirdly, it cannot support the dyn amic collaboration efficiently. The prevailing of the flat architecture is not d ue to its advantage but to the big software providers. From the system viewpoint , a hierarchical architecture is proposed. Difference from the current architect ure, in the hierarchical paradigm, ERP is put in the bottom level rather centere d. SCM is the center system, which adopts a multi-agent structure. EC is regard ed as its foreground interface, while ERP and other information system of the pa rtner or internal units are the background executors. EC is the extension of mar ket agent and purchase agent. It fulfills the function of trade on Internet by s ending orders to be executed to SCM and receiving the progress information of th e orders from SCM. After receiving orders from EC, the agent in charge of schedu le in SCM makes preliminary plan in form of instructions (which may be infeasibl e) based on the information of source. Trough the coordination of multi agent, the plan is adjusted to be feasible. Compared with current ERP-centered flat ar chitecture, the hierarchical structure pays more attention to dynamic collaborat ion rather the optimization within the enterprise. At last, two engineering case s, Beijing Shang Pu Electric Ltd and Qingtao Tianyue International Building Mate rial Free Trade City, are presented to illustrate the idea.
